The question of Britain’s continuing its embargo on the shipment of arms to the Arab states should the Palestine truce expire tomorrow “would depend on the circumstances in which the fighting would be resumed,” a Foreign office spokesman said today. He added that several days ago, British representatives called on various Arab states to “press on them our strong feeling that the truce should be prolonged.”
The Foreign Office representative, in response to a question regarding Cyprus, said that the British interpretation of the truce agreement–that men of military age on the island are potential fighting personnel–has not been challenged by any member state of the United Nations. He admitted that the government’s position will have to be “re-assessed” if the truce is not extended.
The British Government today notified U.N. Palestine mediator Count Folke Bernadotte and the U.N. Security Council of the abductions of four British subjects in Jerusalem yesterday by Irgun Zvai Leumi members. At the same time, a Foreign Office spokesman said the Belgian consul in Jerusalem, in his capacity as chairman of the truce commission, protested to Jewish authorities in the city over the kidnappings.
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